The United States Supreme Court ruled today that police do not need to get warrants before taking a person’s DNA. The Court ruled 5-4 that police can continue to DNA samples from people that have been arrested with the need for a warrant. The Court likened the taking of a person’s DNA to fingerprinting or… Read More
Archives for 2013
Judge Issues Warrant Against Late Juror
An Oklahoma Judge jailed a juror for about four hours after the juror was late to court for two days in a row. After jailing the juror the judge released the juror and scheduled a contempt of court hearing. The juror Rickey Christopher was released from the jury pool after he arrived late to court… Read More
Judge Jails Lawyer and Client For Being Late
On Monday May 6, 2013, Pennsylvania Judge Stephen B. Lieberman jailed both a lawyer and his client for being late for court. Attorney B.. David Marcial and his client Jesus arrived about an hour late for jury selection in Ortiz’ upcoming drug trial and were taken into custody. Judge Lieberman promptly raised Ortiz’s bail from… Read More
Judge Sends Juror to Jail
When Benjamin Kohler reported to jury duty in Salem, Oregon being sent to jail was the last thing he thought would happen. But it did. Kohler was seated as a juror in armed robbery case. He was then instructed by Judge Dennis Graves not to use his cellphone during the trial. Yet, Kohler ignored the… Read More
How Massachusetts Judge’s Set Bail
In Massachusetts, the purpose for bail is to ensure a person’s appearance at the next court date. Most people charged with crimes in Massachusetts are released on their own personal recognizance, or their promise to appear at the next date. For other people, it is up to the judge to set the bail amount. Bail… Read More
States Can’t Ban Sex Offenders From Social Media
A law that forbids sex offenders from using social media sites that allow children to access has been ruled unconstitutional by a Federal Appeals court in Illinois. An Indiana state law made it a crime for sex offenders from accessing sites like Facebook because children also used the site. The Federal Appeals court called the… Read More
Another Chemist Accused of Mishandling Drug Samples
For the second time in less than one year, Massachusetts a drug laboratory chemist has been charged with mishandling and tampering with drug samples. Sonja Farak, 35, of Northampton, is charged with testing and certifying drugs and then replacing them with non-drugs. Frank is believed to have replaced heroin and cocaine then Frank has been… Read More
Man Tries To Pay Court Fine With Fake Money
Fernndo Costa an illegal alien from Watertown tried to pay a $250 court fine with fake money. Costa, 24, was given a $250 in the Brighton District Court after he was arrested for driving without a valid Massachusetts driver’s license. Costa took off running after the court clerk tested the money and learned it was… Read More
Boston Police Officer Charged With Rape
Henderson Parker, 45 a 18 year veteran Boston Police officer was arraigned on rape and indecent assault charges in the West Roxbury District Court on Monday. His bail was set at $1000 cash. The incident happened in Roslindale, MA the same town where Parker lives. No details were given as to whether Parker was on… Read More
Top Seven Traits of a Great Criminal Attorney
Nobody plans to get arrested and therefore nobody plans to hire a criminal defense attorney. Yet when the need arises everyone wants the best criminal defense attorney. Unless you have been raised by a family of criminals you probably don’t know what to look in a criminal defense attorney. Here are the top seven things… Read More